Here two surgeons discuss the importance of a balanced professional and personal life.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: What healthcare policy changes would you make if you could?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: What are some ways to maintain work-life balance?
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I am struggling with this as I get busier. Things I have learned from my mentors have been to take time during the day to interface with your family no matter what. I make sure I read to my son at night, if I can be home. Going on family vacations and blocking off one day during the weekend for just family stuff is crucial. My wife taught me this, and it is important to stick with it. Emergencies happen and patients need us, but build relationships with colleagues and they can cover you, and get you some family rest and relaxation time.
Richard Kube, MD, Founder, CEO, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, Peoria, Ill.: Maintaining a work-life balance is critical to success and is enhanced through efficiency. You really only have a certain amount of time in a day and a lot of that time is wasted or mismanaged buy a lot of individuals. We certainly all have a lot of work to do to take care of our patients and to manage our practices. If we employ the right personnel and utilize the right tools and technologies, we can be more efficient which provides us with more time to have a life outside of work.
Frankly, it is important to make time for exercise, family and friends to prevent burnout and complacency. By doing that you maintain vigor for your work and may find that your productivity can actually increase because of the improved quality and effectiveness of the work you perform while under less stress. Also the positive attitude that comes with that balance will also be noticed by those around you. In turn, the resulting improvement in interpersonal and inter-business relationships can translate into added success. In this manner you can now create a cycle that in some ways feeds upon itself to continuously improve your work-life balance.